Southgate proves he's a man of the people
England manager Gareth Southgate went from one of the most heavily criticised men in England to someone whose inbox is surely flooded with apology messages. If you thought the love for the manager could not get any bigger, then be prepared to eat your words once more.
A video circulating on social media shows Southgate comforting the Danish players after their defeat in the Euro 2020 quarter-final. Instead of going straight to his squad or ignoring the Danish players, Southgate goes over to comfort them.
https://twitter.com/itvfootball/status/1413076665757011973?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1413076665757011973%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thepoke.co.uk%2F2021%2F07%2F09%2Fthis-video-of-gareth-southgate-consoling-denmark-players-is-making-people-love-him-even-more%2F
https://twitter.com/GaryLineker/status/1413462237952585728
https://twitter.com/TSSLUFC/status/1413077671857299459?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1413077671857299459%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thepoke.co.uk%2F2021%2F07%2F09%2Fthis-video-of-gareth-southgate-consoling-denmark-players-is-making-people-love-him-even-more%2F
Southgate has undeniably shifted the perception of the England squad since 2016, guiding them to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup. Southgate was given an OBE in 2018, and Kane was given an MBE simultaneously, both for their contributions to the country in 2018. Sterling also received an MBE for his work in racial equality, though this will also reportedly be upgraded should England win.
Sunday's match against Italy will be monumental, so much so that the government are toying with the idea of one last attempt to co-opt it by making it a bank holiday.
